What do UU kids believe? 

Each and every person is important.

All people should be treated fairly and kindly.

We should accept one another and keep on learning together.

Each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.

All persons should have a vote about the things that concern them.

We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.

We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.

What do we practice?

We practice kindness and respect for one another as we learn together.

We make sure everyone has a chance to be heard, and to share their true self.

We ask questions and learn about different perspectives together.

We help our fellowship and community by participating in service projects.

We make change by participating in social justice actions and environmental care.

What do we offer?

Sunday Services: Our Sunday zoom services include a Time for All Ages — all congregants and visitors are invited to connect with our child selves for a story. You can see examples of some recent Time for All Ages segments in the videos below.

eNews: Our weekly eNews contains a segment called “Notes for All Ages” for families to read together. Often, extra links to videos or activities are included to help you practice your UU faith at home.

Events: UU faith means more than attending Sunday services. We connect kids and teens with congregational events and meetups, local service projects that embody our values, and opportunities to engage with the broader UU community — regionally, nationally, and internationally!

Programs/Classes/Groups: With interest and support from parents and other MCUUF members, we are able to offer specific classes and programs for kids in various age groups. Past offerings have focused on the OWL and Coming of Age programs for young teens, but many wonderful UU faith exploration programs exist for all ages. Interested in volunteering or joining an RE committee? Email [email protected]

Time for All Ages videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb0Vj-L17ZQ&ab_channel=SullivanMackintosh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEk4HX1uCnY&ab_channel=SullivanMackintosh

More info for parents and caregivers*: 

What kinds of things will my child learn? Families with kids are often looking for a community of shared values in which to raise their children. Our UU principles are the most important things we teach, but we also give children building blocks with which to form their own beliefs. We explore Unitarian Universalist identity, world religions, and social action/justice as a way to find our own truths.

How can you teach without doctrine? We have a strong faith in the inherent spirituality of children and see it as our task to nurture, not to indoctrinate. Our respect for the children teaches them respect—for themselves, for others, and for this fragile interdependent web of which we are all a part.

What will my child learn about big religious questions? They will learn that all big questions have many answers, and that it is their duty to search responsibly for their own answers. But we also give children a foundation on which to build their own values. You can expect your child to learn that:

  • there as many ideas about the divine, morality, life, and death as there are people

  • we can learn from many great religious prophets and teachers, and follow the examples of their lives

  • regardless of our individual beliefs about death, our impact on Earth lives on in the hearts and minds of those whose lives we touch; therefore, how we lead our lives each day is of the utmost importance

* adapted from the pamphlet “UU Religious Education and Your Child,” by Gaia Brown, UUA Bookstore

About our Coordinator of Religious Exploration:

Sullivan Mackintosh (she/her/hers) grew up as an MCUUF youth before attending college at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. Since graduating in 2015, she has worked as a theatre artist and educator, as well as serving as an occasional celebrant for MCUUF services. She joined the MCUUF staff in January 2021, and is looking forward to growing and evolving the intergenerational community of the Fellowship and deepening the relationship of children and youth to their UU faith. You can reach her by email at [email protected]

Find more opportunities and resources for kids and youth:

https://www.uua.org/ages

https://www.uua.org/pacific-western/youth-ministries

Sullivan Mackintosh (she/her)

Coordinator of Religious Exploration

Mid-Columbia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

“Art by Owen, age 9, representing our 7th Principle.”